Archive for the 'Reggie Carter' Tag Under 'UCLA' Category

In just two games UCLA has rewritten all expectations for the 2010 season.

Quarterback Kevin Prince lost his starting job and got it back in less than 24 hours. Kicker Kai Forbath missed a field goal for the first time since Karl Dorrell paced the Bruins sideline (or so it felt like it). And the Bruins suffered their worst Pac-10 home loss ever.

It all made for an animated Talking Points.

Adam Maya: Scott, I'm going to ask you what I asked myself after the disaster that was Stanford 35, UCLA 0. On a scale of 1-3 (with 10 still being the greatest), how bad has UCLA been this season?

UCLA lost defensive lineman Brian Price, the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, All-Pac-10 linebacker Reggie Carter and three other starters on the defensive front seven.

The good news is that defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough still has some talent to build around. Junior linebacker Akeem Ayers (video) is an All-America candidate. He had 14.5 tackles-for-loss, six sacks and returned two interceptions and a fumble recovery for touchdowns.

Defensive end Datone Jones has shown signs of emerging as one of the Pac-10's top defensive linemen.

In fall camp before his freshman year Moore won the free safety job. He has since started in all 25 games of his UCLA career, the most of any player on the roster.

Moore has had two years to grow up in UCLA's system and its locker room. He's been mentored by guys like Brigham Harwell, Brian Price, Reggie Carter, Kyle Bosworth and Alterraun Verner, not to mention coaches DeWayne Walker and Carnell Lake.

How good is Ayers? Well, how many players do you know that are projected to be All-Americans before making their first all-conference team?

No one at UCLA can do as many things well as its strongside junior linebacker. Ayers is an all-purpose tailback on defense, given his ability to tackle, rush the passer, and play the run and pass. Notice the range in his 2009 stats: 75 tackles (14.5 for loss), six sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, three touchdown returns, three pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries.

UCLA began spring football searching for answers and might have walked away with even more questions. Nonetheless, several conclusions can be made about this team heading into summer and the 2010 season.

Once again, we bring you 10 things we learned about the Bruins. (Note: “learned” is not a synonym for “answered”).

4. The defense's No. 1 priority in the fall: Find linebackers. Fast.

What UCLA lost in experience on defense it seems to be replacing with athleticism. Nowhere will that be more crucial than at linebacker.

There's no better place to start than junior strongside linebacker Akeem Ayers, who will be an All-American if he improves as much in 2010 as he did as a sophomore. His 75 tackles (14.5 for loss), six sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, three touchdown returns, three pass break-ups, and two fumble recoveries last year should tell you enough about his versatility.

The junior defensive end dominated the spring game and secretly might be UCLA's best defensive player. Jones can also play inside and has a great motor for a D-lineman. Look for him to play at an all-conference level this season.

Also gone are two more starting defensive linemen and two more starting linebackers. None of them made the top-30 list, but Reggie Carter was unquestionably the voice of the Bruins' defense (if not the entire team).

Only three UCLA players were invited to the NFL scouting combine, which begins Feb. 24 in Indianapolis.

Getting invited doesn't guarantee getting drafted (just as not being invited doesn't mean a player won't be drafted). But it says a lot about your stock. Last year only one UCLA player was invited -- running back Kahlil Bell -- and no Bruin was drafted.

Here are the three Bruins invited this year (with one glaring omission):